“Yeah, that’s what I want to do,” Durant said about signing an extension when he first is eligible, which would be after negotiations can start July 1 and until Oct. 31. “I want to be here. I want to be part of this organization.”

If the Thunder this summer offers Durant a maximum contract extension, which would be in the neighborhood of $80 million over five years, Durant will reach quickly for a pen.

“If they did offer that, that would be something that nobody could turn down,” Durant said. “I would be blessed and privileged and honored. But, at the same time, I’ve got to keep working. … It would be good (to sign this summer). To know that I can be with a team for a couple (more) years will be cool.”

When asked if he would be “offended” if Oklahoma City didn’t offer a max contract on July 1, Durant answered, “Not really.” He then said, “Of course, I know I’ll be back the year after that, and you never know what will happen that next summer.” The first part sounds great. The last part sounds a little scary.

KD stuck to what makes him so darn likable, saying, “I didn’t get in the game for just the money. I want to be somewhere where I’m comfortable, where I have a chance to win a championship, and I think that will be here.” And KD means that. He turned down $10 million more from Adidas to sign with Nike because he’d always worn Nike’s and he felt like they fit his feet better. He drives a conversion van, not a super-fast fancy car, because it’s comfortable. He thinks $15 is too much to pay to rent a movie. When he says money isn’t everything, I genuinely believe him. He’s always been about basketball first, other crap second and that’s one of the reasons I admire him so much.

I don’t know what OKC’s actual financial situation is. Some believe the Tyson Chandler deal was rescinded mainly because of money. Some fear the Thunder’s holding onto their cap space because they can’t afford to spend. Some worry that the franchise may choose to wait on Durant’s extension and see the new CBA in an effort to maybe save a couple million bucks, because it needs to. But honestly, if the Thunder has to pinch pennies that much and can’t afford to lock up a player long-term the caliber of KD as soon as possible, then frankly, we shouldn’t have a team here. I know that’s strong and some people may run with that line and say stupid things, but it’s true.

Kevin Durant is worth every single dime, nickel and penny. He said if he gets the deal, he will stay. Cut and dry. So if Oklahoma City has to cut corners and hold back its pocket book for a year on KD’s extension at the risk of ticking him off, then forget about this whole thing. We’ll never enjoy a truly successful franchise here if that’s the terms we’re operating under. We can live with signing only mid-level free agents. We can live with managing the budget and spending smart. But we can’t live with not paying our superstars that we’re supposedly building a long-term future around.

Sam Presti has made brilliant moves in his tenure as the Thunder’s general manager. Some have been tough choices that went against the grain. Drafting Russell Westbrook over Brook Lopez. Taking James Harden instead of Ricky Rubio. But drafting Kevin Durant No. 2 behind Greg Oden was a no-brainer move for Presti. And offering him a max deal when the clock strikes midnight July 1 should be equally as easy.

Why would Durant stay in such a small market? He can grow so much by moving to a major market and be on a team with the financial resources to compete for titles. That is not a realistic scenario in OKC.

I think we all want them to get something. But it depends on the circumstances some. I mean, if they try and just don't get anyone, that is different than not trying. There's a chance that we'll just be flat turned down by free agents, regardless of having Durant and Westbrook for them to play with.

Of course you offer him the max, but be completely up front with him. In a few years, depending on the growth of our young guys, it could be difficult to keep everyone around without making some sacrifices. I'd say, look: The max contract is on the table, and we are more than willing to offer that, but if you put your faith in us to build a championship caliber team and put some of that money back on the table, it can help ensure that this team sticks together and adds the pieces it needs.

KD clearly said in that article that he didn't get into this game solely for the money. You can tell he is a very level headed and good kid. He loves his teammates and this organization because of them. These teammates are the whole reason he loves OKC. You give him the choice and make it known that this is HIS organization. I think KD would be more than willing to offer money on the table to build a championship team and keep all his friends around.

@morganThis is probably why the topic has diverged so much, and even in the beginning focused more on Green's extension than Durant's. We know what is going to happen with Durant, we actually can do some guessing and "playing Presti" with everything else.

@morganIndeed. It's not even an issue of "he's so humble and wants to win, would it hurt to ask?" We have no incentive to be cheap at all. We can afford him at a max contract without any problem. Even if we squeeze 1-2 million out of the contract (even each year), what does it matter? We will be at the cap once the extensions kick in, probably sooner if Presti uses the cap space this summer, so it's not like it buys us another player. And if the management can't afford that 1-2 million now, why are we even bothering to hope for a championship team in the future?

@justinWe are a great, exciting team, but we really have no bearing yet as to the desirability of OKC or the Thunder. Sure, we do all the right things, but for a lot of guys, it's all about market size and that big name brand (Knicks, Lakers, Celtics).

I would be very displeased if we didn't do anything significant this summer, but I do have faith in Presti. There are a lot of things in our favor, and even if we are forced to play at the small stakes table, we can win big if we play our cards right.

@The DonI think part of the worry is that even asking could be perceived as a slight. Honestly, he's worth the max, we can afford it, and it won't even go into affect for another year after this summer. What reason would we even have to ask him to take less before we have shown a willingness to spend or trade to improve the team around him?

Durant will get the max. There is no reason not to pay him, nor is there anything to really say "take a 2 million cut and we'll definitely make this team a champion." This offseason is perhaps the last time we'll have to add a significant piece, and if he takes a cut only to watch Presti pick up mid-level players, he'd have to be upset.

As much as I would love Bosh, and as much as I think this is the ideal situation for him (outside of a Wade-Lebron-Bosh dynasty), there is a very real possibility we don't get much of anything in the offseason. I'll be upset if it's the case, but I'm not naive enough to think Presti can just steal whomever he wants once he has that cap space ready to work with.

The budget challenge is perhaps bigger than normal when you choose to load all your salary renewals real close together and choose a "core" that is probably larger than normal. So if this was the design, then make it work.

justin :How many young players take pay cuts? I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation.

Ok then lets not even bother asking him based on your assumption that young players just never take paycuts and just hand him the max deal while having that "what if" question always lingering in the backs of our minds

you offer Durant the max for as long as possible. don't offer him anything but max. when you get lucky and find a player like him in the draft you don't risk offending him. KD is worth more to this franchise than his contract...so what ever your paying him it's worth it

You sit him down and say look, if you want the max deal it's yours, but if you wish to leave some money on the table we would use that to give you better teammates and a better chance at winning a championship

Regardless of how much we offer KD is a rich man, it comes down to how much he cares about money, is taking a 25% cut from max salary which still pays him tens of millions and he will never have work a day in his life after he retires if he manages his money well enough, or does he need every last dollar he can get?

And his next shoe deal will play some role in all this.What is he selling now, is the company happy with the rate of return, do they offer equal or bigger money next time or not, for him in OKC or elsewhere. I think that deal has 2 years left but I am not sure.

Durant might take a little less annual salary. Really how many years he actually wants might be the bigger issue with him possibly wanting less after his agent perhaps gives his take at the value of flexibility.

I am not going to worry much right now about what Presti will do with Green. I'll wait 'til he acts one way or another to say much more. They do hold the leverage. And as little as White has been used he is part of that leverage.

If you keep Durant, Westbrook, Green and Harden into the second phase of their window when they are all on second contracts then you probably can only pay one more big- and the plan may well be for it to be Ibaka. This might really be it except for the draft picks. (Then you eventually get to phase 3 when some will have to go.)

You can add a different piece in the next 1, 2, maybe 3 years. Or subtract while adding.

@justinI don't think it's necessary to pencil him in at long term starter with 7 per year. If he ultimately can't hack it in the starting lineup, a contract of that size (and likely after the highest year) would be easily trade-able. The point is getting the extension done now is a good idea for chemistry, and Green being worth 7 million in the NBA isn't that hard.

@CrowThat would be nice to attempt, but I think it's only a last resort if Green won't sign this offseason. We hold all the leverage next year, and the only way he makes more than the 7 or so I have in mind now is if Presti caves to his agent or he makes a significant jump next year. The former isn't likely, and the latter forces him to prove his worth.

best option is to approach him with a deal like tim duncans, see if KD is willing to leave a few million on the table in order to allow the team just that little bit of financial flexibility it takes to sign valuable role players and ensure that good teammates can be kept around. I think KD would go for it.

Maybe you wait til Jan/Feb 2011 and see where Green is and where Ibaka is and if you can get a top shelf big for some combo of Green, one of the expiring Center deals and whatever else interests the other team enough to do it.

If you want to keep Westbrook they might need to trade one of Green or Harden at some point. Don't have to, unless they have a fixed budget that is too low to do that and have enough elsewhere. They probably will try to use draft picks and vet minimums as much as possible and that is smart as long as you don't over do what you expect from it.